Improved feed mechanism for gizzard cleaning machine



C. J- HILL April 2, 1957 IMPROVED FEED MECHANISM FOR GIZZARD CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 28. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR 614/?! J ///Z L I $4M ATTORNEY C. J. HILL April 2, 1957 IMPROVED FEED MECHANISM FOR GIZZARD CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CARLJ fl/LL BY ATTORNEY 2,737,352 1C6 Patented AP 1957 IMPROVED FEED MECHANISM FOR GIZZARD CLEANING MACHINE Carl J. Hill, Canton, Ga.

Application July 28, 1955, Serial No. 524,947 7 Claims. (Cl. 198--33) This invention relates to poultry gizzard cleaning apparatus and is particularly concerned with feed mechanism therefor by which the gizzardsare disposed in predetermined position for engagement by the retaining means of a conveyor.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus of my prior filed co-pending application entitled Gizzard Cleaning Machine filed May 13, 1954 and identified by Serial No. 429,607 to which reference may be had for a detailed consideration of the general structure and operation of such apparatus. Suffice it therefore to state that the complete apparatus includes a conveyor chain having gizzard impaling prongs together with appropriate drive means therefor by which the impaled gizzards are carried past and in contact with a splitting knife or saw and thence through a cleaning zone where the opened gizzards are subjected to jets of water or other cleaning fluid. One characteristic of the apparatus of my prior application which is involved in the present feed mechanism is the mounting of the impaling prongs on the links of the chain whereby as the conveyor chain is moved over its drive sprocket, the impaling prongs move outwardly from the next forwardly adjacent link to receive the impaled gizzard thereon and are thereafter moved toward the parallel flight of chain to securely clamp the gizzards for movement past the splitting knife and through the cleaning zone.

In the operation of the machine of my prior application, it has been found desirable to provide improved means for orienting and securing the gizzards in oriented position as they are presented to the impaling prongs so as to insure continuous feeding and accurate and uniform positioning as they are moved past the splitting knife and through the cleaning zone. 7

It is therefore among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved orienting, positioning and retaining means appropriate for use with a poultry gizzard treating device of the type set forth in my prior application above identified.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the novel and improved means for orienting poultry gizzards as an incident to the feed thereof to the mechanism of a treatment apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved gizzard engaging means for the retention thereof in appropriate orientation as they are pre sented to impaling prongs so as to insure a uniform disposition of such gizzards as they are brought toward and in contact with a splitting knife.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide cooperating spaced disc elements adapted to engage a poultry gizzard to retain the same in predetermined oriented position with a minimum of frictional contact and possible injury thereto.

With these and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention in mind, reference may be had to the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with parts of the apparatus removed to show the inner face of the cooperating retaining and feeding rotary members.

'Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the feed mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a splitting knife adjustment means forming part of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view of the feed trough taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

In considering the structure and operation of the present apparatus, it may be borne in'rnind that the poultry gizzards to be handled by the present equipment and that of my prior application are substantially disc-like in shape with a central thickness diminishing toward the periphery. In splitting such objects, it is desired to provide uniform cuts extending inwardly from the thin peripheral edge. Thus it is desirable in effecting such operation, that the objects be oriented to edgewise position and so retained as they approach a splitting saw or knife, and it is further advantageous to provide a firm securement of such objects in such position as they are brought within the path of an approaching impaling prong so as to secure and retain them as the prong is thrust into their rather tough outer covering.

The structure of that form of the present invention here presented by way of illustration may be generally defined as including a trough into which the gizzards may be placed and through which they may be moved by gravity. The trough is of a gradually progressive configuration, the outer receiving end of the trough being generally of rectangular U-shaped configuration while an intermediate portion thereof provides a progressively inclined wall so as to impart a preliminary vertical positioning of the object as it travels through the trough, while at the discharge end the trough is of narrow V-shaped configuration substantially equal to the Width of the gizzard at a point spaced from the bottom of the trough-like configuration approximately equal to onehalf the diameter thereof, thus the gizzard is forced into a vertical position in its travel through the trough. At the discharge end of the trough, there are provided two pairs of cooperating gizzard engaging discs, the inner faces of which converge toward their center so as to provide therebetween for the seizure of the gizzard with a minimum of friction or pressure but with a securement of the object in the edgewise position to which it has been oriented by travel through the trough. While the trough presents the gizzards to one side of the cooperating pairs of delivery discs, the opposite sides of the discs are located approximate the path of movement of an impaling prong so that by opposite rotation of the pairs of delivery discs, the gizzard is firmly held as it is presented to the impaling prong whereby the impaling prong will penetrate each successive gizzard in uniform manner of impalement.

Referring more particularly to the detailed construction presented by the drawings, the apparatus includes the delivery trough hereinbefore referred to and generally indicated by the numeral 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the outer receiving end of the trough is of generally rectangular U-shaped configuration open at the top and including vertical side walls 11 and horizontal bottom wall 12. As here indicated, the trough is inclined to provide ease of passage through the trough, such inclination being such as to provide gravity feed for the gizzards as they travel down the trough, if desired. Asthe trough progresses downwardly and inwardly toward the splitting and washing apparatus, the configuration thereof alters in .the manner indicated in Fig. 6 wherein the one side wall 13 is tipped slightly outward .whilethe opposite side wall 14 is inclined to a greater degree, the walls .being joined by an inclined bottom portion 15. In open communication with the discharge end of the trough 10, there is a secondary receiving and guiding trough-like member 16, the cross-section of which is indicated in Fig. 7 wherein the side walls are vertical at their upper edges 17 and turned inwardly at their bottom portions 18 to be joined at a rounded apex portion 19. The gizzard itself is indicated by the numeral 20 in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and will be seen to have the characteristic configuration of a discus, being substantially circular in-outer configuration with minimum thickness at the periphery and increasing thickness toward the center. Thus it will .be seen that the final configuration of the receiving and delivery trough 16 is such as to receive the lowerhalf of the gizzand in such manner as to position and orient the same to a vertical position.

At the lower end of the delivery trough 16, the bottom wall is cut away as at 21 forming a pair of side extensions 22 extending inwardly toward the machine for mounting the delivery trough 16 and for insuring delivery of the gizzards in the vertical position discussed'between the two pairs of retaining and feeding discs hereinafter more fully discussed.

The retaining and feeding discs comprise a lower pair 24 and 25, each of which is circular with frusto-conical inner faces from the centers of which the surfaces diverge outwardly to the peripheral edges while the outer faces of such discs are flat. The inner faces of the discs are preferably provided with radial matching ribs 26 forming frictional engaging means for securely retaining the gizzards against accidental displacement as they are penetrated by the impaling prong. Both discs 24 and are fixedly secured to a driving shaft 27 mounted in bearing housings 28 supported from webs 29 of a base member 30 of the splitting and washing apparatus.

Disposed above and inwardly of the lower discs 24 and 25, there is provided a pair of companion and similar discs 31 and 32 of like configuration and spacing, the upper discs being preferably somewhat larger in diameter than the companion lower discs. The discs 31 and 32 are fixedly secured to a drive shaft 33 mounted in a bearing housing 34 supported from a web 35 extending upwardly from the rail 30 of the apparatus. It will be seen from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3 that the peripheral edges of the pairs of discs 2425 and 31-32 are slightly spaced. The arrangement and spacing of the discs are such that the thicker central portion of the gizzard is received in the intervening space between the two pairs of discs while the lower edge portion is received and retained between the discs 24 and .25 and.

the upper edge portion is received between the upper discs 31 and 32. In view of the radial ribs 26 of the cooperating discs, it will be seen that the gizzards are retained against relative motion as they are delivered from the lower end of the trough 16 for presentation to the approaching impaling prong.

As indicated by the arrows of Fig. 2, the discs of the upper pair are rotated in unison in clockwise direction while the lower pair are similarly rotated in counterclockwise direction so as to provide for engagement and delivery of the gizzards forwardly and downwardly from the trough 16. Equal and opposite motion is imparted to the shafts 27 and 33 by pulleys 34 and 35, respectively mounted thereon by intermediate flexible crossed belt 36. Drive is imparted to the lower shaft 27 by a sprocket 38 over which is trained a driving belt or chain 39 driven in synchronism with the drive of the conveyor chain hereinafter discussed. The sprocket 35 being 4 mounted in the driven shaft 27, it will of course be seen that the .intervening cross belt 36 will rotate the shaft 33 in synchronism with the shaft 27 but in opposite direction of rotation with respect thereto.

The conveyor chain of the splitting and washing apparatus is generally indicated at 40 in Fig. 2 and comprises individual links 41. At intervals along the flight of the chain 40, links are provided which have formed rigidly thereon impaling prongs 42. By the rigid securement of the prong 42 to the forward bar of its link in a position extending forwardly and generally parallel with the next forwardly .adjacent link, it will be seen that as such links traverse the end sprocket 43 over which the chain is trained, the preceding links move away from proximity to the impaling .end of the prong so that such prongs extend radially outwardly therefrom and radially from the sprocket. The sprocket 43 is mounted in such relation to the axes of the discs as to present the protruding ,prong well within the peripheral boundaries of such discs so as to engage and penetrate theperipheral edge of the gizzard as it moves past the center line between the axes of the upper and lower discs. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the discs while moving at a synchronized speed with respect to the travel of chain 40 retain their engagement with the gizzard the penetrating prong isthrust through the edges thereof, thus insuring a secure impalement of the gizzard 0n the prong and releasing the gizzard as it moves from the discs only after such impalement is secure and complete.

The numeral 50 indicates a gizzard splitting rotary saw or knife mounted upon the shaft 51 of a driving motor 52, the splitting knife 50 being located inwardly along the upper flight of the conveyor chain 40 and with its lower peripheral edge spaced slightly above such flight and inalignment with the chain so that as the gizzards are moved by the chain through their impalement on the prongs 42, they will bepositively brought into contact with the revolving knife to split the gizzards inwardly from the outer peripheral edge.

As shown in Fig. 4, the disposition of the upper discs 31-32 relative to the lower discs 24-25 may be readily adjusted by a pivotal mounting of the shaft 33 on the outer end of arm 54 pivotally supported as at 56 in bearing housing 34. Adjustment is readily provided by engagement of the boss 57 by a support element 58 vertically adjustable by a standard 59'releasably and slideably secured within a supporting bracket 60.

'From the foregoing, it is believed that both the construction and operation of the present invention will be clearly apparent. Sufiice it therefore to state that inthe operation of the device, the gizzards may be indiscriminately placed in the outer end of the trough 10 at approximately the point indicated by the section line 5. As such objects travel downwardly of the trough either by gravity or with a feeding operation, they are gradually oriented to the edgewise position as they are lifted thereto by progressively inclining wall 14 causing the gizzards to progressively .bear against the more nearly vertical wall 15. As the gizzards thus partially oriented are delivered from trough 10 to the receiving trough 16, their orientation is completed and they are delivered between the delivering and retaining discs. It will of course be clearly apparent that the upper edges of the disc-like gizzards are received between the upper discs 30 and 32 after their lower edges have been received between the lower discs 24 and 25. Since the pairs of discs are rotating in opposite directions, it will be seen that the gizzards are firmly secured therebetween, the ribs 26 providing for retention against accidental displacement. It will also be seen that the gizzards are thrust downwardly and toward the conveyor chain by the cooperative movement of the discs and the timing is such that as each gizzard passes forwardly between the discs, one of the impaling prongs 42 is presented thereto and thrust therein while the gizzards are still retained between the discs. Itwill also beseen that as the prong moves upwardly, the gizzard is released from between the outwardly positioned lower discs 24 and 25 while the upper discs 31 and 32 assist in the movement of the gizzards with the prong to deliver the same to the rotary cutting knife 50.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific structural details herein presented and that numerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to in the practice of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means.

2. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, said trough means including a slowly varying cross-section from angular U-shape to substantially V-shape, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, a conveyor chain and impal-ing prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means.

3. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means, said retaining and feeding means including a pair of discs mounted for uniform rotation and including frusto-conical confronting faces.

4. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, said retaining and feeding means including two spaced pairs of discs, each pair including confronting frusto-conical faces, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means.

5. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, retaining and feeding means at the end or" said trough, said retaining and feeding means including two spaced pairs of discs, each pair including confronting frusto-conical faces and means for rotating the pairs of discs in opposite directions, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means.

6. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, said trough means including a slowly varying cross-section from angular U-shape to substantially V-shape, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, said retaining and feeding means including two spaced pairs of disks, each pair including confronting frusto-conical faces and means for rotating the pairs of discs in opposite directions, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain movable in a path intercepting the path of travel of said gizzards in said retaining and feeding means.

7. In a poultry gizzard splitting and washing machine, a feed trough including means for orienting gizzards in their travel therethrough, said trough means including a slowly varying cross-section from angular U-shape to substantially V-shape, retaining and feeding means at the end of said trough, said retaining and feeding means including two spaced pairs of discs, each pair including confronting frusto-conical faces and means for rotating the pairs of discs in opposite directions, a conveyor chain and impaling prongs on said chain for travel therewith and extensible to move in a path between said discs.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,258 Harrington a- Apr. 30, 1901 1,480,898 Denmire Jan. 15, 1924 1,963,036 Trolley June 12, 1934 2,337,394 Kok Dec. 21, 1943 2,362,517 Woodberry Nov. 14, 1944 2,400,419 Hohl et a1. May 14, 1946 2,406,176 Vergobbi Aug. 20, 1946 2,676,697 Bashore Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 153,996 Germany Sept. 27, 1904 1 493,094 Germany Mar. 3, 1930 

